Ambler's Texaco Station

The station was originally built by Jack Schore. In 1936 it was leased to, and later sold it to Vernon Von Qualon and it became Vernon's Texaco Station. Then in 1938 it was sold to "Tubby" Ambler who operated the station from 1938 to 1966. In the early 1940's he added the service bays to the north side.

In the mid 1960's Ambler sold the station to Earl Kochler who sold it to Royce McBeath in the late 1960's.

In 1970 Phil Becker became the owner after having worked at the station since 1964. It became Becker's Marathon Gas Station about a year later and that lasted until 1999 when it became an auto repair shop that no longer sold gas. In 2002 Phillip Becker donated the station to the Village of Dwight. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.

In May 2007, after a renovation, funded in part by a matching grant from the National Park Service's Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, it opened as a Route 66 Visitor Center.

Like many landmarks along the Mother Road in Illinois, the Ambler station features several information signs and kiosks.

These Route 66 shields are popping up all along the Main Street of America as the highway's 100th anniversary in 2026 approaches.

Photo(s): 2012, 2023